Jon Fitch 'surprised, but not really' by the UFC's decision to cut him

Former UFC Welterweight contender Jon Fitch tells Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice on Inside MMA that he was "surprised, but not really" by the UFC's decision to cut him after his loss to Demian Maia.

Former UFC Welterweight contender Jon Fitch has signed with the World Series of Fighting following Zuffa's decision to cut him loose. He spoke with Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice on AXS TV's Inside MMA on Friday and explained his take on the situation (transcribed by MMA Mania):

It was a surprise, but not really. I've always felt there was some kind of issue between the UFC and me; I never understood what it was. I felt like - I never really felt like they were happy with me, they never talked to me or explained anything to me about how they felt or where they stood, so it was a surprise in that sense, but it wasn't a surprise in that I kind of felt it coming.

The issues between Fitch and the UFC go back at least to their brutal November, 2008 decision to cut him for refusing to sign away his video game likeness rights in perpetuity for nothing. But actually predate that dispute as it took Fitch three years and eight straight wins to get a title shot and for that matter it took Fitch 5 wins to even get on the main card of a UFC event for the first time.

Fitch lost a unanimous decision to Demian Maia at UFC 156 and went 1-2-1 in his final four fights in the UFC, beating Erick Silva at UFC 153, getting KO'd by Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 and drawing B.J. Penn at UFC 127.

Presumably Fitch will enjoy the good graces of the fine folks at the World Series of Fighting.